Letters 08-15-08

Friday

Aug 15, 2008 at 6:01 AMAug 15, 2008 at 6:05 AM

Our use of oil makes our standard of living high

Re: "Drilling our way out is not the answer" (Letters, Stan Brown, Aug. 13).

Yes, we do use more oil than any other country at this time. But don't worry, very soon a higher standard of living and a growing middle class will dominate India and China and you won't have to worry about the United States using most of the world's oil resources. I doubt, however, that these emerging economies consider any "moral" aspects of their demand or use of oil.

But I would ask Mr. Brown to consider what the use of oil does for us here. Efficient transportation, the movement of people, goods and services is critical in making us the most efficient economy in the world.

Efficient transportation (cars, trucks, train, planes) allows our citizens to have access to jobs and the best food, electronics, textiles, books, appliances - the tangibles that are emblematic of our generally high standard of living - the envy of emerging economies. Affordable personal transportation has made it possible for our citizens to travel freely about our great country to see first hand how the rest of us live.

Morality? Our economy has been so successful that the United States is the first to offer and provide aid in any global crisis, and has contributed to many economic development programs in many countries. Our largesse would not be possible without our oil- and electricity-based economy.

I agree with Mr. Brown that conservation of resources is important, but don't understand why he feels drilling for oil should negate that philosophy. Conservation means "wise use."

Providing our own domestic oil resources would certainly mean that we would not be relying on other countries (some not so friendly to us or to others) resources. It seems like the moral responsibility would be to alleviate the global supply constrictions by developing our own domestic resources. And since we would not be increasing demand on others' resources, the price might soften for the world's emerging economies.

The demand for oil here in the United States, and certainly globally, will continue to increase with increases in population. Demand also means that the price will continue to stay high until demand is met with supply. With high fuel prices, more efficient or electric or alternative transportation options look much better for our society. But then we have the problems associated with increasing our electricity capability. But that's a whole other issue.

Dinah Shumway Apple Valley

Is this the role model we want for our children?

Bill Postmus has opened new doors of hope for our young people. Our drug-addicted youth previously only had Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry as a role model that drug addicts can be elected to public office. This was of little encouragement to the children in our heavily conservative Republican area.

It was considered impossible that in an area focused on family values such as a gun in every home and homosexuality should be a crime, that drug use could be accepted by the electorate. That barrier has finally been shattered. Now our children know that they can aspire to an elected office and not let their drug use hold them back. If the drug use gets out of hand, we will pay for a vacation at a rehab to build their strength to return and run another campaign for a higher office.

Gone are the days when our children feel they need a college education in order to secure a high paid government job. Bill Postmus' right hand man was able to receive a high paid job with lots of perks with no education or training. Students who feel that college is too much work now have another role model.

Kissing up to the right person will get you much further on your career path than hard work and an education. The goal is to find the right person. Thank you Mr. Postmus for being a role model to our disenfranchised, uneducated, drug-addicted youth.

The real demise of society is perpetrated by people who have lost all sense of common courtesy for their fellow man, and have lost all respect for the basic laws that govern our society.

Ms. Valenzuela is angry because she got "flashed" by the red light camera. Is it safe to assume that, because she was on her way to work, she was also late and probably speeding to boot? So her lack of concern for the other drivers on the road has led to her having to suffer the consequences of a hefty fine. Boo hoo.